I am loving my Jetta Sportwagen TDI. No fancy electronic crap, batteries, charging stations, tons of room, great ride, and should last 200,000+ miles with basic maintenance. Plus the resale on them is insane even with crazy high mileage on them. My fuel cost has been right at $0.09 to $0.11 per mile and I never have to worry about plugging it in. I don't see the draw for a Volt over tried and true diesel technology yet.

I am loving my Jetta Sportwagen TDI. No fancy electronic crap, batteries, charging stations, tons of room, great ride, and should last 200,000+ miles with basic maintenance. Plus the resale on them is insane even with crazy high mileage on them. My fuel cost has been right at $0.09 to $0.11 per mile and I never have to worry about plugging it in. I don't see the draw for a Volt over tried and true diesel technology yet.

Problem is people don't want a diesel. They are stuck in the 80's mindset. Back when all people saw were diesels that were hard to start in the cold and made more noise then a forth of July fireworks show. Its sad really.

5 years ago when diesel was less expensive then unleaded was the time to really push the diesel powertrain. Its very hard for people to look past the higher per gallon cost and jump into a TDI.

I looked at them and would greatly prefer a jetta TDI vs a Prius, but with the higher cost per gallon, the Volt is still less expensive to operate per month (assuming 50 mpg on jetta).

I think Bloomule is onto something with the diesel generator. The 2015 Volt is rumored to have a longer range EV mode (varying reports have it at 50 - 80 average vs todays 38 average) but the true dagger in the heart to the Prius is the also reported 50 Mpg when not in EV mode.

Ive said the volts benefits are in staying in the EV range. With the projected conventional mpg improvements the benefits will extend far beyond the EV range. At that point you have a much better looking prius on steroids.

people don't want diesel cars because theyre more expensive, they stink, and up until about 5 years ago they were loud and shitty sounding

THey don't need to remember they cars, just 'common knowledge' that US automakers made shitty diesels. Same reason some people won't even consider domestic cars at all because 'everyone knows they suck'.

I test drove a volt last year... fun little car. I ended up buying a new 2010 vespa gts300ie from fox motorsports instead. Pretty much a moped on steroids.... 80mph, 70mpg on 12" tires. I had a gls turbo jetta for 10 years and it was a great car, but VW quit putting turbos in the Jettas... I jumped ship and picked up a 2013 Mitsubishi evolution. Prolly get low 20'smpg buy it is hella funner to drive than the volt, and sticker price was lower also ;) The volt is a no-go since I live 18 miles from work, and between the kid's karate, school, and activities... prolly would run it off gas more than the battery!

My cousin was going to buy one (leaf), but when he went to pull the trigger they were all back ordered. That looks like a great option if you can keep within its range. He was saying payment was great at $250/mo as well. Not sure details around that price point though. I would consider that in a heartbeat if I never went on long road trips (or my wife's car got decent mpg).

I test drove a volt last year... fun little car. I ended up buying a new 2010 vespa gts300ie from fox motorsports instead. Pretty much a moped on steroids.... 80mph, 70mpg on 12" tires. I had a gls turbo jetta for 10 years and it was a great car, but VW quit putting turbos in the Jettas... I jumped ship and picked up a 2013 Mitsubishi evolution. Prolly get low 20'smpg buy it is hella funner to drive than the volt, and sticker price was lower also ;) The volt is a no-go since I live 18 miles from work, and between the kid's karate, school, and activities... prolly would run it off gas more than the battery!

wat? my 2008 GLI was parked next to a wolfsberg edition with the same 2.0 TSI/FSI Turbo gasser when I test drove it a few years ago.

I also kicked the tires of a brand new GLI Turbo a few weeks ago... and yes they still make TDI (turbo diesels)

Monday I start working from home in my pajama's so all this talk of commuting costs makes me giggle like a mad man.

I should be saving an easy $5k or more based on the cost of gas, depreciation and maintenance per year with this new career path.

Tested the single charge range over the last two days. Not too shabby on a single charge. 45.9 mikes using 10.5 kwh, at average .10 off peak rates, it cost me all of $1.05 :0). Once I get my Meter and .045 off peak rates, I'll be close to .50 for 50 miles. Loving this car one week in.